live from london, this is bbc news. final preparations for a president: joe biden heads to northern ireland to mark 25 years of the good friday agreement. a strike that threatens to be the most disruptive in the health service history begins in england in two hours. a day after china wraps up military drills, the us and philippines start the biggestjoint exercises we'll be live in the region.

hello and welcome. we begin in northern ireland where final preparations are being put in place forjoe biden�*s visit to mark the anniversary of the signing of the good friday agreement. the white house says the us president is very excited for his trip, which will also take him to the republic of ireland, where he has his ancestral roots. he lands in belfast later today, from where charlotte gallagher sent this report. the us president is coming to town. belfast is really gearing up at the moment for the arrival of us presidentjoe biden. with his presidentialjet, air force 1, tonight. this building is the location forjoe biden�*s main public event in this trip isn'tjust main public event in this trip isn't just about celebrating the good friday agreement and the good friday agreement and the 25th anniversary.

it's looking forward to the future of northern ireland and many of the people studying here are part of the generation that don't remember the troubles or perhaps weren't born at that time. his trip properly starts on wednesday, a meeting with rishi sunak and a visit to ulster university's new campus. butjoe biden won't be advising —— visiting this building, stormont, the home of the devolved government. power sharing here in northern ireland collapsed over a year ago. with the democratic unionist party refusing to return over post—brexit trading arrangements. the president seemingly wants to avoid the political stand—off. from wednesday afternoon he'll be in the irish republic and it will be a mix of political business and person visits. he'll meet the irish president and prime minister in dub burundian lyn and his relatives in county mayo and county lauff. joe biden describes himself as a proud irish american and it's clear his ancestral roots are important to him so. this trip

will also be a homecoming of sorts. ., ~' ., will also be a homecoming of sorts. ., ~ ., ., sorts. you know, i often say we irish are the — sorts. you know, i often say we irish are the only _ sorts. you know, i often say we irish are the only people - sorts. you know, i often say we irish are the only people in - irish are the only people in the world who are nostalgic for the world who are nostalgic for the future. i think that's true, by the way. and — but now the diplomatic once wrote, "every st patrick's day, every irishman goes out to find another irishman to make a speech to." said that this morning and i asked you to hear it making speeches. luckily we don't have to go far today. with more than 30 million people in the us identifying as irish american it night be beneficial at the ballot box, too. mick mulvaney served as us special envoy to northern ireland under donald trump. he told the bbc why the good friday agreement is so important to the us and what president biden could achieve.

it is to engage on something like this i think message to the irish and british alike that this is an important issue to i applaud him for doing that. i hope it's relatively well managed. he had an unfortunate comparison to the irish and palestinians i think the last time he talked tonight topic. we are not there to pick sides, to say this side is a winner or loser. we are there to encourage dialogue and continue progress. we want to see northern ireland succeed. we want to see the republic of ireland succeed, we want to see the entire uk succeed. these are our closest friends. this is family. this is people with whom we speak mostly the same language. so we are invested in seeing it succeed. we are are are —— are not a signatory to the agreement. i think a lot of folks in my country don't recognise that. i'd like to think we helped to get it created and get it signed but we didn't sign it. we are here as an interested third party to

try and make sure that communications continue and to the extent we can be helpful in moving towards the goals of the good friday, the belfast agreement, was to go ahead and cease the troubles and bring some political stability and if we can continue to do that we will. ., �* �* , �* will. here on bbc news we'll have live _ will. here on bbc news we'll have live coverage _ will. here on bbc news we'll have live coverage of- will. here on bbc news we'll have live coverage of the - will. here on bbc news we'll have live coverage of the us| have live coverage of the us president and the events that take place in northern ireland as they happen. but now let's focus on the days ahead for the national health service here in the uk. a doctors strike that threatens to bring the worst disruption in the history of the health service begins injust two hours here in england. it runs all the way through to saturday morning and could mean the cancellation of 350,000 appointments and operations. the doctors union is in a row with the government over pay forjunior doctors, with the british medical association sticking to its demand of a 35% pay rise and the government refusing to negotiate until what it sees as a more reasonable pay demand is met. catherine burns has the latest.

what to we want? pay rise. how do we get _ what to we want? pay rise. how do we get it? — what to we want? pay rise. how do we get it? strike. _ what to we want? pay rise. how do we get it? strike. this - do we get it? strike. this winter we _ do we get it? strike. this winter we have _ do we get it? strike. this winter we have news - do we get it? strike. this winter we have news to l do we get it? strike. this i winter we have news to sing inform inform staff waving banners. we're now into the fifth month of industrial action but this walk—out by junior doctors in england is bigger in scale than anything that's come before. the bmw is being accused of picking dates to maximise disruption 6789 their view is that industrial action is supposed to cause some disturbance. irate action is supposed to cause some disturbance.- action is supposed to cause some disturbance. we can -- we've been — some disturbance. we can -- we've been open, _ some disturbance. we can -- we've been open, honest - some disturbance. we can -- we've been open, honest and transparent through this whole process. our transparent through this whole process. 0urask transparent through this whole process. our ask has not changed because all we're looking to do is restore the pay the juniors have lost. but at every opportunity it seems we might breakthrough it seems there's another pre—condition, obstacle, to go through. there's another pre-condition, obstacle, to go through. inform inform bosses _ obstacle, to go through. inform inform bosses will _ obstacle, to go through. inform inform bosses will prioritise - obstacle, to go through. inform inform bosses will prioritise a l inform bosses will prioritise a and e and areas like maternity,

neonatal and critical care a they expect many, possibly around 350,000, routine appointments to be postponed. including phillip's surgery to tackle constant ear infections. he says it shouldn't have come to this. ~ , . to this. when iery ceived the -hone to this. when iery ceived the phone call— to this. when iery ceived the phone call i _ to this. when iery ceived the phone call i was _ to this. when iery ceived the phone call i was gutted. - to this. when iery ceived the phone call i was gutted. i - phone call i was gutted. i ended up crying. because... pain. unbearable now. what do i do? what do i do now no ijust have to wait. and why is it cancelled? who's accountable? cancelled ? who's accountable? how cancelled? who's accountable? how many more people are like me? , , , . ., me? this will be the second “unior me? this will be the second junior doctor _ me? this will be the second junior doctor strike - me? this will be the second junior doctor strike this - me? this will be the second | junior doctor strike this year. they also walked out in march. at the heart of this, pay. they want a 35% increase to make up for years of below inflation wages. for years of below inflation wanes. ., �* , for years of below inflation wa.es_ ., �* , ., for years of below inflation wa.es_ ., �*, ., ., for years of below inflation wanes. . h . ., ., wages. that's a large demand when you _ wages. that's a large demand when you think _ wages. that's a large demand when you think about - wages. that's a large demand when you think about it. - wages. that's a large demand j when you think about it. don't get me wrong, i think they should have an increase but 35% is a lot. i should have an increase but 3596 isalot. , ,

is a lot. i support them. i think - — is a lot. i support them. i think - i've _ is a lot. i support them. i think - i've got _ is a lot. i support them. i think - i've got nothing . think — i've got nothing against _ think — i've got nothing against what _ think — i've got nothing against what they're i think — i've got nothing - against what they're doing. i 'ust against what they're doing. i just hope _ against what they're doing. i just hope that _ against what they're doing. i just hope that it— against what they're doing. i just hope that it does- against what they're doing. i just hope that it does get. just hope that it does get sorted _ just hope that it does get sorted out _ just hope that it does get sorted out quickly. - just hope that it does get sorted out quickly. it's i just hope that it does get sorted out quickly. it's really unfortunate _ sorted out quickly. it's really unfortunate if _ sorted out quickly. it's really unfortunate if you're - sorted out quickly. it's really| unfortunate if you're needing sorted out quickly. it's really l unfortunate if you're needing a major operation or you've been on a waiting list but ultimate i __ on a waiting list but ultimate i —— ultimately i think it's the only way na things can change. i the only way na things can chance. ~ , the only way na things can chance. ~' , ., ., change. i think they do need a significant _ change. i think they do need a significant pay _ change. i think they do need a significant pay rise, _ change. i think they do need a significant pay rise, obviously| significant pay rise, obviously 35%. _ significant pay rise, obviously 35%. they're _ significant pay rise, obviously 35%, they're aiming - significant pay rise, obviously 35%, they're aiming very- significant pay rise, obviouslyl 35%, they're aiming very high. thnt— 35%, they're aiming very high. that approach _ 35%, they're aiming very high. that approach has _ 35%, they're aiming very high. that approach has had - 35%, they're aiming very high. that approach has had some l 35%, they're aiming very high. i that approach has had some luck with some unions. nurses, ambulance staff and physios are voting on a 5% pay increase. but not so far with the junior doctors. the us and the philippines are holding their largest—ever joint military drills a day after china concluded large—scale exercises around taiwan. beijing simulated attacks on taiwan in response to the island's leader meeting the us house speaker last week. plans for the joint exercises between the us and philippines pre—dated china's activities but won't do anything to calm already simmering

tensions in the region. live now to our correspondent shaimaa khalil in tokyo. this day ahead or these current exercises that are under way will, as we havejust mentioned, will not help the situation will it?— situation will it? that's ri . ht. situation will it? that's right- the _ situation will it? that's right. the philippines | situation will it? that's i right. the philippines and the united states are holding the largest ever military exercises between the two countries. yes, these exercises were agreed beforehand, after the us secured a defence deal with the philippines last month. four us military bases are going to be — naval bases are going to be based on the philippine islands but the timing of it could not be more sensitive. could not be more tense. these military exercises start a day after the three—day military drills that china just concluded around

taiwan in which they tested targeting — hitting taiwanese targets. there were these simulated videos or a scenario of china hitting taiwan, by land, by sea and by air. those exercises and those drills were condemned by taiwan's president as irresponsible, causing a instability for taiwan and for the region. so you have that happening. remember, there is still eight naval ships in taiwanese waters as we speak. chinese naval ships. so even though the drills have ended, this preservence is still there, which means the tension is still there. so you have that. you have these military exercises between the us and the philippines, the show of force. this military preservence in the south china sea, and in philippines waters, something that is more than likely going to anger china even further.— even further. and yet still china is — even further. and yet still china is looking _ even further. and yet still

china is looking ahead, i even further. and yet stillj china is looking ahead, as even further. and yet still i china is looking ahead, as is taiwan, to elections next year. china wants an outcome where the winner is not proindependence, so china's keeping that in mind isn't it whilst it plays out all these military exercises.- whilst it plays out all these military exercises. that's very true and it's — military exercises. that's very true and it's very _ military exercises. that's very true and it's very interesting l true and it's very interesting because everybody though these military exercises have heightened tensions in the regionf heightened tensions in the region f you look at them in the context of what happened after most visited taiwan last august, it is not as severe as that. remember, at the time, there were miss tile launches that landed in japanese there were miss tile launches that landed injapanese waters. it was very, very tense so. china was trying to make a point with those three—day military exercises, again warning taiwan of its closeness to the states but, as you say, this all comes in the backdrop — to the backdrop of politics. taiwan is getting ready for presidential elections in january. the president not run

for another term but she's hoping that her party is going win elections so her language was really interesting when she was really interesting when she was reacting to he has military drills. he side — you know, "as president i represent my country to the world. although the drills have ended, the national security, the nation's army and military, are going to remain in their post", making it clear her and her party's stance, about taiwan not following china. what was interesting is while the president was in the united states meeting with us officials on her first stopover, the officials on herfirst stopover, the member of officials on her first stopover, the member of the opposition party was in 0pposition party was in beijing. the red carpet was rolled out for him, very pro china, very pro—beijing. and it's interesting because, as you say, china's watching this quite closely. it's in their benefits, it's na theirfavour, that whoever wins the election

in the coming — injanuary, excuse me, is china—leaning and is beijing leaning. irate excuse me, is china-leaning and is beijing leaning.— is bei'ing leaning. we cal and shau is beijing leaning. we cal and shall watch _ is beijing leaning. we cal and shall watch closely. _ is beijing leaning. we cal and shall watch closely. thaw i is beijing leaning. we cal and shall watch closely. thaw for| shall watch closely. thaw for now. in around 20 minutes we're going to be talking about china in detail. it's latest inflation numbers are out but also brazil president is arriving in shanghai today. a lot happening in that part of the world. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. it isa it is a fantasticjob. it is journalism in real time. these stories are happening in front of you, and you're trying to interview the key players, you're navigating through live pictures. you're, in a sense, guiding the audience through, trying to make sense of what you're seeing, and we're living in an extraordinary time for news in terms of the magnitude of stories. but it's notjust

the heavy lifting, there's size, there's technology there's trends, there's culture, there's sport and what you're trying to do constantly is to friend all of that, the interesting stuff, the stuff that people are talking about, the fun stuff, you're trying to blend that into your shows, and i love news. i'm a real news junkie. when i think back as a kid at school, you know, i was the one that was watching the budget programme live op my own obviously, but now you get to be actually doing it. i mean, i love thisjob. it be actually doing it. i mean, i love this job. it is perfect for me. you're live with bbc news. we're looking at the us house intelligence committee in the states now because the chair has been talking to the bbc saying that some of the information in the intelligence documents leaked on the internet representing to ukraine is concerning but called the information a limited snap shot. mike turner

has been briefed on the leak and gave us more detail. so details have been emerging through the day in a series of press briefings about the shooting this morning. we are told officers were called to i do think that there is a way and we certainly are, through the department ofjustice and through the department of defence, trying to track this down. certainly, the documents have limited circulation. they have been appearing in photographs, some of which of course have electronic signature aspects that can help us lead to where this leak may have occurred, where these documents have come from. and of course our goal anything that happens on the ground is visible to russia and they will have most of these events anyway.— they will have most of these events anyway. they will have most of these eventsan a. ., , , ., events anyway. causes pause and a reconfiguration _ events anyway. causes pause and a reconfiguration of _ events anyway. causes pause and a reconfiguration of perhaps i a reconfiguration of perhaps the goals and objectives. the goals and ob'ectives. when he was probed i the goals and objectives. when he was probed about _ the goals and objectives. when he was probed about who i the goals and objectives. when j he was probed about who could have been behind the breach he said the work is still ongoing.

there certainly is an inventory of who has access to them but we will be working diligently to find out who has these documents and who might have leaked them and certainly this is espionage and if it turns out to be american, they are a traitor and they will be held to justice. detectives in the us state of kentucky say a gunman, who killed five people at a bank yesterday, streamed the attack live on social media. connor sturgeon, who was 25, worked at the bank and opened fire at his colleagues before being shot and killed by police at the scene in louisville. 0ur correspondent jessica parker has more. so details have been emerging through the day in a series of press briefings about the shooting this morning. we are told officers were called to the scene at around about half past eight in the morning. there was an exchange of fire between police and the suspect. the suspect died. now what we're also told is the—year—old

suspect had been live streaming the incident, and had worked at the bank as well. now, during the shooting, one of those injured was a police officer, who we heard later today had been struck in the head, and had had to undergo brain surgery as a result and was in a critical condition, and had only just graduated recently from the police academy. so is a very sad human stories emerging from those press briefings today, and of course the governor of kentucky is well talking about his personal connections, and that he had known one of the people who have died. in terms of the ongoing investigation, we're told that it could take some time, that officers were likely to be at the scene for some hours yet. there has been some political reaction. presidentjoe biden tweeted tonight...

the safe communities act was passed last year, a bipartisan piece of legislation, seen as a landmark moment but it didn't ban any weapons. what it did is invest in crisis intervention, and upgrading school security, toughen some background checks, but the biden administration has talked about wanting to ban assault weapons, something that others are reluctant to do, of course this largely falls along party lines. some republicans reticent to tighten gun controls in certain areas. there is of course the argument of those who are very protective of their second amendment rights. they say that if criminals are armed with weapons, and of course many, many guns are in circulation in the united states, then ordinary seasons may be need to be as well. so i don't think we're expecting any big political changes after today's tragic events but this debate of course keeps on running.

thejewish rabbi whose two daughters were killed in a gun attack in the west bank has given an emotional speech after their mother, his wife, died from her injuries. from jerusalem our middle east correspondent lucy williamson has more. lucy dee was elected by helicopter and within a critical condition and we understand never regained consciousness. the hospital today said she had died from herfatal injuries, just today said she had died from her fatal injuries, just a day after her husband, the rabbi, buried their two daughters who were pronounced dead at the scene of the attack. he denied has given a very emotional statement after the announcement that his wife has also died. the statement was fairly short, it was both personal and political. he spoke about the time when he realised it was his family caught up in the attack that he

had been hearing about and he described trying to call his wife, getting no answer, calling his daughters, getting no answer again and then realising had a missed call from his younger daughter that he hadn't heard and hadn't picked up which he said would continue to haunt him. but in a sign of how close personal tragedy can be here, too, the political, he also had a much wider message and called on people to differentiate between good and evil. he said that moral relativism should be avoided and he called on people to show their support for his family by showing their support for israel on social media. the british government will announce new measures to reduce the number of smokers in the population to below 5%. i million smokers will be given a free vaping starter kit to encourage them to give up tobacco products. while pregnant women will also be offered up to £400 to stop smoking. the free vape policy — which is being called "swap to stop" — would be the first

of its kind in the world. despite a raft of measures in recent years like the indoor smoking ban, increased duties and plain packaging with graphic health warnings, some smokers are still struggling to quit. the government has set an ambitious target to make england smoke—free, meaning reducing rates to 5% or less by 2030. currently around i3% of people in england still smoke, so the government's latest idea to help kick the habit is to offer a million smokers vapour starting kit in the hope they swap, was the 9% of women who still smoke during pregnancy will be offered behavioural support and up to £400 in vouchers to give up. it is hoped this will reduce the number of babies born underweight or underdeveloped, with health dublin is requiring neonatal and ongoing care, as well as reducing the risk of

miscarriage and stillbirth. the plans also include a crack down on underage and illicit vapour sales to stop the rising problem of children taking up the habit. this scheme is estimated to cost around £45 million over two years and will be funded by the department of health and social care. campaigners have welcomed the measures as being a step in the right direction but say they are nowhere near sufficient. tobacco remains the single biggest cause of preventable illness and death in england, up illness and death in england, up to two out of three lifelong smokers will die from smoking and recent data shows one in four deaths from all cancers were estimated to be from smoking. with such a high cost of treatment to the nhs, it is hoped this direct approach to smokers might keep them from filling much—needed hospital beds in the years to come. now, who's right — the critics or the public? if you listened to most critics you'd avoid the new super mario bros film,

like your life depended on it. talk to movie—goers though — and they loved it. and now it's breaking box office records. 0ur reporter nicky schiller has moremore. $377 million. that is how much the new super mario brothers film has made at the global box office in its first five days. that means it is the biggest opening for an animated film of all time, beating the previous record holder, which was frozen 2. now it is, of course, based on the world famous nintendo character super mario, voiced this time by this man, chris pratt. while the villain in the movie is played byjack black. if you haven't seen it, here's a little taster. mouser is coming. i'm not afraid. i'll do anything for my brother. we're going to save him. yes! you asked for it!

this is fun! here... we... go! it has to be said, the movie hasn't gone down well with all of the critics. take a look at some of the reviews. the first from the new york post. "just another soulless ploy to sell us merchandise." meanwhile, the telegraph described it as like being frog marched round toys r us. finally, this one from the guardian. tedious and flat in all senses. but take a look at rotten tomatoes, the film review site. 56% from the critics, but the audience score 96% and other critics agree with that. i actually really, really enjoyed it. there's a lot of fun. it's brightly coloured. and i think it has a wide ranging appeal for both adults and kids alike. having it being released during the easter weekend when all the kids are going to be off school, is playing to its advantage. but people, you know, critics and audiences need to remember this is mario, nintendo's biggest player.

there will be appeal regardless. now, some experts think this super mario film could be one of the biggest movies of the year. and hollywood studio owners and indeed movie theatres will be hoping that its success is a sign that families are prepared to go back to the cinema after the covid pandemic. have you been to see that film? your thoughts, have you been to see that film? yourthoughts, please have you been to see that film? your thoughts, please get in touch. now, just that preparations are actually under way now in northern ireland for arrival ofjoe biden later arrival of joe biden later today. arrival ofjoe biden later today. this visit of course is today. this visit of course is to mark the anniversary of the signing of the good friday agreement. the white house is saying that the us president is actually extremely excited about this trip which will also take him to the republic of ireland he has his ancestral roots of course. he lands in belfast later and we will be a that live when it happens, but next year on bbc news, all the

top is in the stories with me stop don't go anywhere, i'll see you injust stop don't go anywhere, i'll see you in just a moment. hello. tuesday's going to be a day which some of you will have to make the most of the morning weather, because it'll be a day in which conditions will be rapidly deteriorating, with wet weather spreading to many areas from the south and west, and by the end of the day will be increasingly windy, especially around some western coasts and hills. an area of low pressure approaching now, but in the night into the morning got a brief ridge of high pressure, quite a shallow one, so still a few showers into the morning, but a lot of dry and clear weather and a colder start of the morning as well. even a touch of frost through some sheltered scottish glens. but whilst there will be some cloud in scotland, one or two showers, many start fine and bright. lots of sunshine around. make the most of it. south—west england, south—west wales and south—west

northern ireland deteriorate rapidly through the morning, that rain spreading to the rest of northern ireland, wales and western england for the end of the afternoon with strengthening winds. temperatures down a bit on today but given the strength of the wind and the rain spreading in, it will feel cooler. the winds will be strongest into the first part of the night around these irish sea coasts and hills. that could cause damage and disruption, particularly in coastal parts, easing a little bit later in the night. rain will have swept across all areas, lingering in the morning to parts of northern scotland with some snow on the hills. here is that area of low pressure as we go into wednesday, slowly pushing eastward, will maintain a windy spell of weather. after a brief lull, if you can call it that, the winds will strengthen from the west through the day, some eastern areas, actually, not a bad morning with sunshine around, a few showers here later in the afternoon but frequent showers, longer spells of rain in the west, and the wind restrengthening through

the day, so another bout of strong winds especially across parts of wales and southern england, 50—60 mph gusts possible again, and, believe it or not, some will struggle to get seven or eight degrees. it will feel chilly out there, some wintriness on the tops of the hills. 0ur area of low pressure gradually migrates further east into thursday, becomes less potent, still a breezy day, especially across the south, here fewer showers, but plenty of showers elsewhere to begin with, some longer spells of rain in parts of scotland and northern england and temperatures recovering just a touch, but overall it will be another fairly cool day. more wet weather and windy weather to come on friday, signs of something warmer into the weekend into next week. take care.

this is bbc news with the latest business headlines it's the annual pow—wow of central bankers and finance ministers in washington: the imf sets the tone warning of weak economic growth over the next five years. china's inflation slows to an 18—month low, as sluggish food prices keep inflation under control. cruising back into action: we speak to the boss of carnival to find out how the cruise industry has bounced back from the pandemic blues. and using tech for perfection: the beauty industry embraces artificial intelligence to boost sales and make its products more personable.